All-Time NFL Players From Acadiana: Carlos Pennywell

A number of people have represented the Acadiana area in the National Football League.

All summer long, we’re going to spotlight the fantastic athletes from the area, people that were actually born in one of the Acadiana parishes, that went on to play football at the highest level, the NFL.

Born on March 18, 1956 in Crowley, Pennywell grew up in north Louisiana, and attended Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Following his high school years, Pennywell went to college at Grambling St., playing for the legendary Eddie Robinson, where he garnered All-SWAC honors his senior season in 1977, catching 32 passes for 748 yards, while finishing first in the SWAC, and fourth in the NCAA, averaging 23.4 yards per catch.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Pennywell was selected by the New England Patriots in the 3rd round of the 1978 NFL Draft.

Pennywell made his NFL debut with the Patriots in 1978, at the age of 22, appearing in all 16 games, mostly on special teams, catching one pass for 28 yards.

In four seasons in the NFL, Pennywell finished with 12 catches for 143 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging and an 11.9 yards per catch.